However Sir Oliver Heald, a justice minister, disclosed earlier this week that plans to scrap the human rights act - which were part of the Conservative manifesto - will be delayed until after Brexit.

David Nuttall, a Conservative MP, asked Sir Oliver in the Commons: "It is of course right that our manifesto commitment to replace the Human Rights Act remains on the Government’s agenda.

I think it important for us to sort out the EU side of matters, and the exit from the EU, before we return to that subjectSir Oliver Heald, a justice minister

"But does my Right Honourable and Learned Friend agree that leaving the European Union and freeing the United Kingdom from the bonds of the charter of fundamental rights must be their top priority?"

Sir Oliver replied: "I do agree with that. I think it important for us to sort out the EU side of matters, and the exit from the EU, before we return to that subject."

His comments suggest that a decision on whether to introduce a British Bill of Rights will not be made until after the General Election in 2020.

However government sources said it is now unlikely to happen at all amid concerns that Mrs May could face a rebellion by Conservative MPs over the issue.

Martin Howe QC, who has advised the Conservatives on plans to scrap the human rights act, said he was "deeply disappointed" by the suggestion that they could be dropped.

David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, had vowed to scrap the human rights act and replace it with a British bill of rights to stop it being exploited by foreign criminals, terrorists and othersCredit:
REUTERS/UK Parliament

He said: "If they dropped the whole thing it would be deeply disappointing because the problem is there and it would not go away.

"The European Court of Human Rights is not an EU institution and we will still be subject to its jurisdiction after we leave the EU. We can get Brexit out of the way then come back to think about it again."

Mrs May, who served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016, spoke in the past of her desire to quit the ECHR, which frustrated her plans to extradite the hate preacher Abu Qatada.

In April, Mrs May said: “The ECHR can bind the hands of Parliament, adds nothing to our prosperity, makes us less secure by preventing the deportation of dangerous foreign nationals, and does nothing to change the attitudes of governments like Russia’s when it comes to human rights.”

However during her leadership campaign Mrs May said pulling out of the ECHR was not something she could pursue in this Parliament because of the Conservative's slim majority.

The details of the Bill of Rights plans were drawn up by Michael Gove, the former justice secretary, who was sacked as part of Mrs May's summer reshuffle.